It's a new season, and I have a lot to share with you all, so I thought it would be a great time for a big Autumn update!

WE ALL BELIEVE IN YOU - THE DOCUMENTARY

First up, and perhaps most exciting, if you read my last blog post, you'll know that I was in the running to win funding to make a 20-minute documentary about Blake Loates and her mental health initiative, We All Believe in You.

Guess what?

WE WON!

I am absolutely over-the-moon excited and pre-production is already under way. I want to send an immense THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to vote for our project and spread the word. I cannot wait to share this journey with you all! Make you you follow the WABIY documentary on both Facebook and Instagram to stay in the loop.

MONTHLY PHOTO & VIDEO SUBSCRIPTIONS

It has been a wild few months since I launched my monthly photo & video subscription packages. I have had so much fun helping local businesses and brands build libraries of content to kick ass at their social media, websites, e-newsletters, and beyond! Here are a few sneak peeks...

I have very limited spaces available for new monthly photo & video subscription clients. To get started and snag one of the last ones, get in touch with me ASAP.

AUTUMN MINI SESSIONS / AVAILABILITY MOVING FORWARD

You asked, I listened! We're going to do a round of mini sessions on September 29 before I somewhat disappear for the remainder of the year.

What do I mean when I say "disappear"? Well, I am very excited and grateful to share that with my current clients and this upcoming STORYHIVE documentary, I am now fully booked for the rest of 2018. I may have time for one-off shoots here and there, but they will happen pending my availability, and I cannot promise that I will, in fact, have any!

So, if you're looking to get some portraits taken in a gorgeous autumn session, now is the time!

Details:

Saturday, September 29 / Location TBA

$250+GST

30 minutes of photography / 5 digital images (with the option of purchasing extras, or the full gallery of shots)

*If your family is more than 6 people, please shoot me a message ahead of time!

COMING SOON

A few last minute notes!

First off, I am honoured to be moderating a panel organized and hosted by Jocelyn Davison of The Virtual Effect about fair fashion this Thursday, September 13, from 6-9pm!

Come and join our open, honest, shame-free conversation (with a panel of AMAZING WOMEN) about how to be a more ethical consumer, and learn about what ethical fashion is, and how businesses can move towards more ethical practices as well! Tickets can be purchased from the eventbrite page, and include $10 to spend at the marketplace that will be set up at the event!

Also coming soon...

Updated photo and video galleries on the website

New blog posts

An Instagram contest

PRINTS FOR SALE (I've been hearing your requests and I'm excitedly working on it!)

Thank you so much for being here and for supporting me and my business! If this blog post intrigued you, please, do me a favour and share it with the share buttons below!

My name is Andrea Beça. I’m a filmmaker, photographer, and storyteller. I’ve been writing my whole life, and I became a producer/director when I was 19—over a decade ago. I’ve got two degrees, multiple awards, distinctions, and honours under my belt, and I am both proud and grateful to say that I’ve turned doing what I love into my full-time career.

I also live with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and body dysmorphia. A lot of the time, I feel really good and you'd never know. Sometimes this means I feel short of breath in social situations. Other times it means that before I can even get to a social situation, I am on the floor of my bedroom in the fetal position, hyperventilating and feeling absolutely hopeless. Sometimes this lasts for a while, until I am numb and feel like I am living outside of my own body. Sometimes the darkness feels like it’s going to last forever. But the light always creeps back in, and I'm grateful to say that love and hope have always won.

I’ve been a fan of Blake Loates’ photography for some time. I got involved with We All Believe In You (WABIY) when I volunteered to transcribe a portion of the interviews that were going to accompany Blake’s portraits at the official launch of the initiative. I signed myself up because mental health and opening up conversations about mental health has always been very important to me. At the time, I also happened to be in a deep depression as the result of losing a loved one. And about a week into my volunteer gig, one of my friends became suicidal. I spent my days keeping tabs on them, talking them through some of their darkest times, and making multiple emergency calls, both to the police, and to my therapist.

The entire experience made it so clear to me that WABIY needs to exist, and if there ever was a time to make a documentary about WABIY, it’s now, with the help of Telus STORYHIVE's newest documentary edition. Mental illness affects everyone—whether you suffer from it yourself of you love someone who does—and it doesn’t discriminate. We’ve lost some very public figures over the years, making it clear that having your dream job or a lot of money isn’t a cure for mental illness. The number of people dying by suicide is on the rise, and—in the words of WABIY founder Blake Loates—suicide is starting to feel like an epidemic.

More and more people are talking about mental health and mental illness, but conversation isn’t everything—what we need is community. We need to support one another, advocate for one another, and do our best to educate those who don’t understand mental illness and perpetuate the dangerous stigma that surrounds it.

And that’s what this documentary is all about: giving people living with mental illness a voice, normalizing the conversation about mental health, and growing the community of support. I want to highlight the work WABIY and Blake are doing so that we can spread the love and help people across Canada—and all around the world—feel less alone. I also want to do anything I can to support WABIY in creating systemic change so that there’s more support and resources for folks suffering from mental illness. Many people don’t know what to do when someone in their life becomes suicidal, or how to navigate the system to get the help they or their loved ones need when they’re sick. Blake’s work with WABIY is quite literally changing that. The more people learn about WABIY and join the community, the more people learn what assistance and resources are available, and how to support someone who is mentally ill or suicidal. She’s spoken at numerous schools and events, educating thousands on mental health. Every day, by sharing her story, by advocating, and by being open to having the conversation, she’s helping people understand, navigate, and live with mental illness.

The main subjects of this documentary are folks who have been involved in the WABIY community, as well as professionals and leaders in the city who are ready to speak up about their own experiences. From school teachers to psychologists, city councillors, stand-up comedians, youth workers, and family members of those who have died by suicide, we’re showcasing a diverse group of people affected by mental illness, and my hope is that the audience of this piece is as varied and diverse as the people featured in it. My dream for the WABIY documentary is that anyone watching it can identify with it—that they can see themselves represented on screen and feel seen and heard and less alone in their struggles. My dream is that anyone watching the documentary who hasn’t spoken up about their issues will have the courage to reach out—either to a friend, a family member, a professional, or to the WABIY community—and get the support they need. And if they’re not struggling themselves, my dream is that they’ll walk away from a screening of We All Believe in You knowing how to support someone who is. That, in my eyes and heart, would be a huge success.

In order to make this documentary a reality, Blake and I need YOUR help. From today, July 30, until Thursday August 2 at 1pm Mountain Time, you can go to our STORYHIVE page and vote for our project to be made. STORYHIVE will be awarding funding to 15 projects here in Alberta, and another 15 projects in BC. We're hopeful that with the support of our amazing communities, we will be one of those projects!

You don't need to sign up for anything to vote - simply click "VOTE" and you are set!

You get 5 votes per day, and can vote for any given project once per day. We encourage you to check out as many projects as you can and vote for all the ones you'd like to see made! 30 projects will be funded! (Here are a couple you might dig: Queer Scouts, MSed With the Wrong Girl, Go Girl...)

You can vote every day from RIGHT NOW until 1pm Mountain Time (Edmonton time) on Thursday, August 2! Please vote every day to give us the best chance possible of winning the funding we need to make this documentary real!

I cannot thank you enough for your support in making this documentary a reality. Please follow We All Believe in You - The Documentary on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date, get voting reminders, and ultimately to find out if our project has won funding!

We've all heard it: Content is King/Queen - that is, it's everything nowadays. Long gone are the days where having a website was all a business needed to find an audience. Now we need to have a website in addition toa strong, authentic social media presence. You need to show your audience who you are, what you believe in, what you have to offer, and how your products or services can change the world.

And let's face it, content is a lot of work.

I think every business owner/social media manager has felt the struggle of creating new content, and staying on top of it. We've all had those, "Oh, shit!" moments when we realize it's been too long since we posted something new, or we're not sure what to post, or we were too busy doing the things to capture the things we did, and now the opportunity is lost, or we have content, but it just doesn't fit the aesthetic or vibe of the accounts we need to post to.

Now, if you know me at all, you know how passionate I am about small and local businesses, and how much I love to support my fellow entrepreneurs. I've had a podcast - That's So Maven! - for two years that is centred on that very subject! (Which you can check out here if you haven't yet!)

The thing that excites me so much about these new monthly subscriptions is that in addition to doing what I love, which I am so damn grateful I get to do every day, I get to help local businesses and organizations thrive and grow on social media by providing them with beautiful, consistent content.

When you become one of my monthly subscription clients, you're never going to find yourself freaking out about what to post on social media, or throwing together a rushed, impromptu photo shoot with your staff so you have something to put on your website, or in your next e-newsletter again. Instead, you'll have a library of gorgeous photos and video ready to share whenever you want. And remember, photo and video content doesn't have one life - it's content you can revive again and again over time, across all platforms.

Basically, you're gonna be ready to take over the world.

Let's dig into the details!

What are the monthly subscription packages?

So glad you asked! There are 3 different packages to choose from. They are:

A. Photography (only 10 spots available)

1 photo shoot per month (2hrs)

35 edited photos (1 a day for social media, extras for special promo, blogs, website, etc.)

As many locations/outfits/focuses as we can fit in

Minimum 3-month commitment

$325/month (+GST)

B. Video (only 5 spots available)

1 shoot per month (4-5 hrs)

4 social media videos (elevated vlog style, formatted and optimized for social media) - things like how tos, Q&As, mini promos work well

Minimum 3-month commitment

$1000/month (+GST)

C. Photo & Video Combo (only 3 spots available)

Both packages combined to fully rock social media marketing

Minimum 3-month commitment

$1200/month (+GST)

What if I'm not sure what content I want/need?

That's what I'm here for! I've been a filmmaker for almost a decade, a photographer for well over a decade, and I worked in social media for 8 years. I know how to create content that will capture your audience's attention. When you sign up for a monthly subscription, we'll work together to make sure you're getting the content you need, and that it's gonna work for you. I want you to come in to each monthly shoot feeling excited and ready to have fun, because that's what's going to shine through in the final photos and video!

Where can I see examples of your work?

You can check out the video and photography sections of my website, where I have a selection of work available for your viewing pleasure (and I'm always updating it, too)!

I'm not in Edmonton. Can we still work together?

You bet! These subscriptions are open to folks in Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, and anywhere in between. If you're outside of Edmonton, there's an additional travel fee of $100/month.

Are you from somewhere even further away but eager to work together? Drop me a line. I'm ready to chat.

I've been getting tons of inquiries about my DIY Video Content and Discoverability workshops here in Edmonton, so I thought I'd pop in and answer some FAQs, as well as tell y'all a little bit more about what goes on at the workshops - and why you need to attend one.

So, what actually happens at these workshops?

In a three-hour workshop, we'll tackle a lot, including:

Choosing the right camera (to suit your budget and needs)

Lighting and audio (how to make them better on a budget)

Composition and editing (dos and don'ts and quick tips from a professional point of view)

Social media strategy for sharing video (spoiler alert: you can't share it once and walk away)

Tricks for improving discoverability (how do you actually get your video seen?)

Plus you get to ask me whatever you want in the Q&A at the end.

Now, some of the most frequently asked questions I've gotten about the workshops:

How much experience do I need to attend a workshop?

You don't need to have any experience with making video to come to this workshop! All you need is a willingness to learn and an interest in developing video content. Chances are you have a smart phone - with a couple small additions/pieces of equipment, you'll be ready to start making video. So please don't feel like you need to have gear and/or experience to sign up.

Remember: this is a workshop on DIY video content. This is simple video content anyone can create. We'll also talk about when you need to hire a professional. It takes years of experience to become a professional.

Will you teach me how to use my camera?

I can definitely teach you how to use a camera...but not in a three-hour workshop. What I will teach you is the basics of composition, and how to choose a camera that's right for you (which may mean using anything from a smart phone to a DSLR). If you'd like to hire me for some one-on-one training to get more comfortable with your camera, contact me directly so we can chat about schedule and pricing.

Will you teach me how to edit?

Again, folks, editing isn't something you can learn in a three-hour workshop. I mean, yes, I could probably walk you through the basics of editing software in three hours, but...

Everyone uses different editing software, so I'd have to use different vocabulary and instructions for each person

The entire workshop would have to be editing, and I want to give you a more holistic approach to your video content

Also, please remember: shooting and editing aren't things you learn overnight. At the risk of sounding purposefully vague, you may be able to learn how to do them, but it takes a long time to really do them, to find your eye, your style, your voice, etc.

Or, as photographer Annie Leibovitz puts it (much more eloquently):

"You can have the best equipment and it doesn't help if you can't see. It takes years to understand how to see."

What we will talk about is basic editing tips, things to avoid, editing tricks that will keep your audience happy, and more.

Are you gonna talk about Facebook Live?

You bet! We'll be talking about all different types of video, from edited pieces to Instagram stories and Facebook Live.

Are you gonna tell me to spend a ton of money on gear?

No. Again, this is about DIY video, not producing feature films. I'm going to tell you about some equipment that will up your game significantly, and show you a bunch of options at different price ranges to attain said equipment.

When is the next workshop? I missed the first one and I REALLY want to attend!

First of all, the next workshop will be announced soon.

But you have another option, too! Have a group of fellow business owners/social media managers/content developers who are interested in making better video? Gather them and book a private training. I have a six person minimum. Once you've got a group of six or more, you can schedule me for a date and location that work best for you.

Happy New Year, All!

To be honest, it's really hard to believe we're already almost a full week into 2018. The last year has flown by - as they always do, I suppose.

I want to start out by saying thank you to all of my 2017 clients. I had the opportunity to work on such an amazing variety of projects, from teaming up with Calgary-based company KNG Capital for Tiger Cage...

...to flying out to Vancouver for a week to be a production assistant on upcoming Netflix film, Game Over, Man.

So, what's in store for 2018?

You may have noticed that I relaunched my website - and business - on January 1st. If you take a look through my services offered, you'll notice some significant changes, namely that I have streamlined my business and focused in on filmmaking, photography, and storytelling education.

My focus for 2018 is completely set on helping others share their story with the world, whether that's through creating engaging, effective video content, professional story consulting, or training and workshops.

What is Story Consulting?

You've got an amazing business/brand/organization/event, but what's the best way to actually reach your audience and share it with them?

In a story consulting session, we'll sit down and talk about your business, your audience, and the best way to reach them. It's 2018 and the amount of channels and platforms available to businesses is overwhelming. Do you need to be on Instagram? Would a podcast increase your sales? Or should you focus on a YouTube channel?

I'll help you figure it out, form a plan, and connect you with the people who can make it happen.

Training & Workshops

This is something I've been asked for a lot over the last two years, and I'm making it happen in 2018!

Film, Film, and More Film

And of course, I have a lot of very exciting film projects coming up this year, so stay tuned to hear more about those - and to watch them!

That's all for today, folks! I am beyond grateful to be able to do what I love every single day, and I am genuinely beside myself with excitement and anticipation for this year.

If you love this, do me a favour and click 'Share' below to help me spread the word. And as always, if you're ready to work together or you have any questions about anything mentioned above, you know where to find me!

As a lifelong writer with two degrees in the field, I hate to say it, but words take more time and effort than video. You can convey to your audience in a 90-second video what may take you a short article to explain in words. And you can grab someone's attention much quicker with a strong visual than you can with a headline. (Especially now that we're in the age of brutal clickbait titles for everything.)

The digital space is a busy one. It's teeming with words and ads and info. Getting your story across in a succinct, visually appealing, emotionally gripping way (whether the emotion is excitement, fear, anticipation, romance, etc.) is going to do you good.

2. It's authentic.

Did I mention the digital world is teeming with words? It's also teeming with highly curated, often disingenuous personas that belong to both people and brands. And while yes, you can decorate a fancy set and make your business (or life) seem more sumptuous than it is, it's pretty difficult to fake personality if you're not a highly experienced actor.

Video is a great way for people to see you - eye to eye - get to know you, and connect with you. And in the age of social media, that face to face connection can be absolutely priceless. I think that the authenticity of that behind-the-scenes glimpse into a business, brand, or organization is what really captures people's attention - and hearts.

3. It's effective.

The bottom line is, videos works for you. Social media algorithms love it, and, as a matter of fact, favour it. And it's been proven again and again that it gets a lot more engagement than written words or even photography. (And keep in mind that these stats are on the rise...at a rapid pace.)

Ready to start creating killer video content to up your digital marketing game in 2018, but not sure where to start? Check out my Five Tips for Great Video Content. Before you panic, know this: you don't have to kick things off with a giant film production. Start with a goal, and then figure out what steps you need to take to crush it.

Ready to collaborate with a professional to achieve your video goals? Get in touch.

Thanks for reading! Love this article? Hit the "share" button below to spread the word.

Video content is master of the internet right now. It's eye-catching, engaging, and effective. (Well, when it's done right, it is.) But over the last couple years running my business, I've also discovered that there are many misconceptions about video that create barriers for people interested in harnessing its digital marketing power.

So let's talk about five of the most common misconceptions I've encountered concerning video content:

I hear this a lot. "Oh, I love the videos __________ posts on their social media, but I have no clue how to make them."

Anyone can develop video content. If you're feeling intimidated, start simple and try out Facebook Live. Get online, engage your audience, give them useful information pertaining to your business and explore how that impacts your reach and engagement. The more you experiment, the more you'll hone in on what works and doesn't work. You may discover a certain type of video your audience loves that surprises you (e.g., a live unboxing of new stock), and you may also discover that it's time to produce some polished, professional videos to build business. Your audience holds the gold: if you can find out what they want and provide it, you're set for success. So don't be afraid to ask them what they'd like to see from your business, brand, or organization.

2. Anyone Can Do It / "My friend just bought a camera - I don't need to hire a professional."

Notice that in the previous paragraph, I said, "anyone can develop video content," and not, "anyone can develop great video content" - meaning engaging, effective, and successful video content. Yes, you can absolutely get your friend to shoot your next video. But that doesn't mean it's going to be good.

Do you always need to hire a professional? No. Should you usually hire a professional? Yes. Even if you don't have the budget to hire a professional to develop, shoot, and edit your video, you can hugely benefit from paying one for an hour of consulting to learn how to make the most of the equipment you have, how to improve composition, how to affordably record great audio, etc.

(Hint: I'm available for these types of consultation, as well as one-on-one and group training. So don't hesitate to get in touch.)

3. It's All About Equipment / "I can't create video content because I don't have an expensive camera, a production studio, etc."

I'm a professional filmmaker, and I'm telling you, equipment isn't everything. You can have tens of thousands of dollars' worth of the latest gear and still make crappy films and video. Or you can have an iPhone and a couple extra tools and make an award-winning film, like Tangerine.

Filmmaking is a skill. Actually, it's many skills that work together to create a final product - from writing and pre-production to shooting to editing. When you hire a professional (whether it's an individual or a team), you're getting a lot more than an expensive camera. An expensive camera can't save someone who knows nothing about composition. And no equipment on the planet can save someone who has no idea how to tell a story. Again, if you're not ready for a full-fledged professionally made video, consider consultation if you need help, but don't let your brand of camera (or smartphone) stop you from getting started.

4. Length of Video = Length of Shoot / "It's only a 30-second ad - it should take 30 seconds to shoot, and it should be cheap."

This is something I encounter almost weekly. The quickest way for me to respond is, "You know how Super Bowl commercials are (in)famous for costing millions of dollars?"

A video could be 30 seconds long and feature 10 different locations, hundreds of extras, and a ton of special effects. Consider the content before you start drawing conclusions about how much of a professional's time you'll need. You may not be making a Super Bowl commercial, but how many different locations are you envisioning? What types of props, costumes, and people are necessary? And don't forget, editing happens after your shoot, and can be the biggest job of all.

Bring your ideas to a pro. They'll give you a quote. If it's out of your current budget, you can either start saving up, or ask them what's possible within your budget. Because there are always options, and a professional will always be ready to present those options to you if you're open to hearing them.

5. Professional Video is Too Expensive / "I can't afford to hire a professional for a single video."

I'm not going to sugar coat things for you all: professional video content is an investment. You're not going to get strong video content for $100. That being said, if you're working with a professional, part of the process should be making sure that you're getting the right type of video, and that the content of it will serve you for a desired time period. I have clients who have been using their company profile videos for over a year already, and those videos are still bringing them a steady stream of new business. Would your marketing budget for a couple years be $100? I sure hope not!

The best type of feedback to get from a client! Watch Andrea's video here.

What I'm saying here is this: like many, many other things, professional video is something that requires an upfront investment before you start seeing a return on that investment (though once it's released, that return can happen very quickly). And yes, if you're a small business, brand, or organization, you may need to save up before you can make your first one. But having content that lives for years, tells your story in a beautiful and effective way, and (in a sense) works for you to attract new business is absolutely worth it.

On August 19, I had the absolute pleasure of watching my beautiful friend Amanda marry her love, Stuart, on a breathtaking property just outside of Edmonton.

It was such a privilege to be able to capture so many incredible moments throughout the day, and I'll admit I spent a lot of the time crying while I crafted their wedding story into a video. (You'd think after watching it so many times, I'd become desensitized, but I'm here to tell you NOPE! Didn't happen! Still cried every time!) The exchange of sweet glances and silly faces; the tender moments and laughs among family and friends - it all got me right in the heart strings.

It was a busy and amazing day and evening, and I'm so pleased to share their story with you now:

Thank you, Amanda and Stuart, for letting me a part of such an important day in your lives! I'm still swooning over how beautiful it all was!

I'm very excited to announce that I'm opening my 2018 to weddings. I would love to help you capture your day, share your love story with the world, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Because summer is my busiest time of year, I'm limiting the year to just five spots (with a couple extra spots open for winter and autumn weddings!).

Different options are available for different tastes and budgets. Get in touch with me to discuss your wedding today!

Know someone getting married? Just like the video? Click share below to help me spread the word!